Hood latch



Dec. `8, 1936. v C, A slGEL u 2,063,635

u HOOD LATCH K J Filed May 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorzy Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOOD LATCH Application May 9, 1936, Serial No. 78,765

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a latch or closing means and is described and disclosed as applied to an automobile hood closure although it is available for other applications and purposes.

One object is the provision of Such a latch or closure which shall be eiiicient and positive in its action and which shall be easily actuated.

Another object is the provision of a hood latch or lockingI device which shall yieldingly draw the lower edge of a hood closure downwardly and inwardly toward a limiting abutment.

Another object is the provision of improved connecting means for the type of latch closure which includes a rock shaft positioned along the edge of the closure.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specication and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein.:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hood porv tion of an automobile front end showing my device mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, looking from the inside of the hood, showing parts in locked position;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 2, showing the parts in unlocked position;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail section along the lineV 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a detail of one of the operating cranks;

Figure 8 is a figure similar to Figures 2 and 4, showing a modified form of the device;

Figure 9 is a detail section along the line 9--9 of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a section similar to Figure 6, illustrating a .variant form of the device.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates a hood closure, herein shown as of the multiple hinge type in common use on the automobiles now sold. It has a lower edge 2 and side edges 3, 4. Side arges 3, 4 may be opposed to any suitable abutments 5, 6 associated with the cowl and radiator of the automobile. 'I indicates a part of the automobile frame with an upstanding abutment portion 8 against which the lower edge 2 of the hood closure is adapted to be drawn by the latohing means below described. 9, I indicate abutments mounted Within and at opposite ends of the hood closure, each one including a base member II, a flange I2, outwardly extending therefrom, and an inclined riding portion I3 with a central upstanding ridge of track I4.

I indicates generally a rock shaft positioned within the hood and provided with offset crank end portions I6, I'l opposed to the above described abutments. It is also provided with a central offset portion I8. Adjacent the ends are any suitable carrying members I9. Adjacent the central portion of the shaft I5 is the base plate generally indicated as 20, which may be provided with bearing members 2l, 22, which may either be secured to the plate 20, or may be offset from it and integrally formed, as by rolling up an ear.

'Ihe plate 20 is further provided With an 01T- set intermediate portion, generally indicated as 23, which is slotted as at 24, said slot preferably being generally vertical or perpendicular to the horizontal or to the axis of rotation of the shaft I5. Upset in the plate 26 is any suitable cylindrical bearing portion 25, see Figure 5, through which passes a generally cylindrical portion 26 associated with an exterior handle 21. The handle 21 is provided with a ilange 28 overlying and masking an aperture 29 in the hood closure I. It is also provided with a ledge 30 abutting against the upwardly turned lip 3I of the bearing sleeve 25, which serves to limit the position of the handle in relation to the plate 20.

32 is an inward extension of the handle, herein shown as non-circular in cross section. 33 indicates a crank, secured thereto, and apertured as at 34, to conform thereto, whereby relative rotation of the crank and handle is prevented. 35 is any suitable lock washer and 36 a lock nut, whereby the above described assembly is locked into position, with the inside crank 33 movable in response to movement of the exterior handle 21. The crank is provided with a heel 3l, adapted to be opposed to any suitable abutment 33 struck up inwardly from the plate 20 whereby movement of the crank in counterclockwise direction, referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figure 2, is limited at a predetermined point. A similar abutment 38a` is provided to limit the movement of lever 33 in the opposite direction.

Pivoted to the end of the crank 33 as at 39 is a link 40, which link is apertured at its opposite end as at 4I. In Figures l to 4 I illustrate a link 44 of sheet stock, which is pinched in as at 45, to pass through the aperture 4| and is split and expanded as at d6, at the inside of the space formed by the offset portion 23. It will be understood that this space which is closed by the face of the closure i, is large enough to receive the above described means without any bearing contact of the parts except along the edges of the slot 2d and the adjacent faces of the offset portion 23. The link 44 is secured at its opposite end to the offset portion I8 of the rock shaft l5, for example by being bent thereabout in an eye or loop, indicated as 4l in Figures 2 and 3 and as Ma in Figure 8.

I illustrate in Figure 8 the employment of a wire stock link lilla having the offset or bent end 48 passing through the aperture 4l ofthe link 'ta and through the slot 24. Any suitable means may be employed for preventing its withdrawal, as the washer 49 and upset end 50.

In the employment of rod or wire stock in Figure 8, I provide a notch or seating portion 5I, in the crank offset i8, to prevent unintended lateral movement of the link Ma along the offset. It will be observed in both figures that the length of the offset I8 is suflicient to permit ready clearance between the crank 33 at all positions of the offset.

It will be realized that, whereas I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to the precise showing ofthe description and drawings.

For example, as shown in Figure 10, the link M is recurved at its outer end, as at Mb, in conformity to the opposed surface of the member 50. A rivet or other suitable securing means Mc is indicated as passing' through the members Ml and 44 and. through the slot 24, performing the function of the ends i6 as shown in Figure 6.

The use and operation of my invention is as follows:

In locking automobile hood closures, it is desirable to employ a single outside handle which serves to control a plurality of inside latches, and which also serves to raise and lower the closure. This is a type of hood latch which has now gone into wide use and the present invention relates to `a modification of the actuating means for rotating the rock shaft l5 into and out of latching position, with its end cranks I6 and Il in locking contact with the opposed latch abutments 9 and lll. Not merely efficiency in operation but economy in manufacture and durability in use are important. The present invention is satisfactory in all these respects.

Instead of having a direct actuating connection between the handle crank 33 and the offset I8, I provide the intermediate link 44 or 44a. In order to actuate this link and to impart to its upper end a vertical movement, I employ the guiding means herein described, including the offset portion 23 and the slot 24. By offsetting the portion 23, I provide ample space for receiving the inwardly turned end 45 or 48 of the links M or 4ta.. Then, in order to impart movement to the link, I provide an intermediate connecting link @El or 40a, one end of which is pivoted to the upper end of the link 44 or lilla and the other end of which is pivoted to the handle crank 33. Thus two links are interposed between the handle crank 33 and the offset portion I8, these links being pivoted together at their upper ends, and the pivot point being guided for Vertical movement and being limited to vertical movement by the movement of the crank 33, The limit stop 38 is so positioned as to permit the handle crank 33 to throw over beyond dead center so that the torsion on the rock shaft l5 holds the heel 31 against the abutment 38 and holds the assembly in locked position.

I claim:

l. In combination, a ro'ck shaft, and bearing means therefor, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, a handle and bearing means therefor, said handle being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, a handle crank associated with said handle, a link pivoted to said handle crank, a link pivoted to the crank offset of the rock shaft, and a pivotal connection between the outer ends of `said links.

2. In combination, a rock shaft, and bearing means therefor, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, a handle and bearing means therefor, said handle being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft a handle crank associated with said handle, a link pivoted to said handle crank, a link pivoted to the crank offset of the rock shaft, and a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, and means for constraining said pivotal connection between said two links to movement along a path generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rock shaft.

3. In combination, a rock shaft, and bearing means therefor, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, a handle and bearing means therefor, said handle being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, a handle crank associated with said handle, a link pivoted to said handle crank, a link pivoted to the crank offset of the rock shaft, and a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, and means for constraining said pivotal connection between said two links? to movement along a defined path in response to actuation of the handle.

4. In actuating means for a rock shaft, a base plate, bearing means for said rock shaft associated with said base plate, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, adjacent said bearing means, a handle rotatably mounted in said base plate, a handle crank associated with said handle, a link pivoted to said handle crank, a link pivoted to said offset, and a pivotal connection between saidlinks.

5. In actuating means for a rock shaft, a base plate, bearing means for said rock shaft associated with said base plate, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, adjacent said bearing means, a handle rotatably mounted in said base plate, a handle crank associated with said handle, a link pivoted to said handle crank, a link pivoted to said offset, and a pivotal connection between said links, and means for constraining said pivotal connection between said two links to movement along a defined path.

6. The structure of claim 5 characterized by the employment, as guiding means for said pivotal employment, as guiding means for said pivotalA connection, of a slotted portion offset from said base plate, the slot of said slotted portion lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, one of said links including a portion extending through said slo-t, and limit means adapted to prevent its Withdrawal from said slot.

8. The structure of claim characterized by the employment, as guiding means for said pivotal connection, of a slotted portion offset from said base plate, one of said links including a portion extending through said slot, and limit means adapted to prevent its Withdrawal from said slot.

9, The structure of claim 3 characterized by the employment of a guiding means including a slotted plate, one of said links being pivoted to the other, and a portion of the other link extending through said slot and being provided with an expanded portion at the opposite side of said slot` 10. The structure of claim 3 characterized by the employment, as guiding means for said pivotal connection, of a flat plate provided with an offset portion, said offset portion being slotted, and a guiding connection between the links and the slot, including a projection from one of said links through said slot.

1l. The structure of claim 5 characterized by the employment of a crank oset of su'icient length to permit free movement of the handle crank through a predetermined arc, the axis of rotation of the handle crank being in the same general horizontal level, in relation to said base plate, as the axis of rotation of the rock shaft.

12. The structure of claim 5 characterized by the employment of a crank offset of sufficient length to permit free movement of the handle crank through a predetermined arc, the axis of rotation of the handle crank being in the same general horizontal level, in relation to said base plate, as the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, and means, in connection with said offset, for limiting the longitudinal movement along said offset, of the link pivoted thereto.

13. The structure of claim 5 characterized by the employment, as guiding means for said pivotal connection, of a slotted portion offset from said base plate, one of said links including a portion extending through said slot, and limit means adapted to prevent its Withdrawal from said slot, said link being formed of flat metal stock and being pinched in at the end, said pinched-in portion extending through an aperture in the opposite link and through said slot.

CARL A. SIGEL. 

